Wichita eagle., 1887-05-05
ADDITIONAL TELEGRAPH
OVER THE OCEAN.
England

LONDON. May Am the house Of con-
mons today w. H. Smith, first lord Of tn
treasury, announced that the allegation i
the Times regarding Dillon was not breacl
privilege, but the government, feeling
their duty in attempting TO solve the ques
ton, had instructed the attorney general {,
prosecute the Times for libel on Dillon Mr.
Smith urged the house to accept the cours'
proposed.
T. P O'Couner condemned the govern
ment's proposal He says he commisser
ates the government on their humiiatins
and degrading position. Their propose
was really for colIusive action at law
made by the valor Of libel O'Conner here
produced a copy of the Times containing
the libel on Dillon and 1lourishing it aloft
said: Il purchased this copy of the
Times at one of the book stalls owned by
the right honorable first lord Of the treas
ury. 1t is he speaking for the govern
ment, who SAYS no breach Of privilege WAS
committed Irish cheers. He Is, there
fore. deeply interested to act part in the
case against the editor OF the Times. The
two men ought to be in the dock together.
Irish members reject his proposal as IN
fair, unjust and unprecedented. The
house of commons ought not TO be taken
In by collusipe action
Here Edwin j. Z. Delisle conservative. |
arose to point Of order He said he had
heard Charles Kearns, Dean Tanner, home
rule member for middle Cork, say con
servatives we're q damned lot of cads. p"
Irish voice sc YOU are
Speaker Peel-Ths clerks Of the house
will please see that the words are taken
down.
Tanner denied he had used the word
damned" He repeated, however, that
conservatives we're q lot of cads.
The apeaker said he must withdraw the
expression and apologize.
Tanner said he would do so.
Sir William Vernon Haroourt denounc-
ed the government proposal
Sir Edward Clarke, solicitor general,
moved an amendment - the governments
proposal to the effect that the house did
not consider the Times statement concern
ing Dillon a breath of privilege. Justify
nights action in Offering The amendment Sir
Edward declared there WAS no recourse Of
parliament having committed man 10 Gus
tody for breach Of privileges, such as the
action OF the Times was now alleged 10 be;
he added he aud he attorney general wee
responsible for the advice on which the
government had acted; he proposed, Ia
confne himself 10 the legal points Of the
case. regardless of party allegiance. He
then quoted preceOents TO show that
the house was not the proper tribunal
to deal with such matters. No corruption
has been alleged of the member. nor had
any contempt of the house been exhibited,
such as had constituted the offence in pre-.
vious cases where breach of privilege had
been committed. The course Of the prose
cution, the solicitor general said. would be
left 10 such persons rs Irish members might
nominate, both counsel and solicitors. If
the government were asked to appoint
them they would interpose no objection
In conclusion Sir Edward slightly mOdi-
fed his amendment, making il read that
the house declines 10 treat the Times pub
LEGATION as breach of privilege.
Lord Randolph Churchill admitted the
case presented prima facie breach of
privilege, hut he thought the house should
not refuse Judicial inquiry to be adopted.
He regarded . resort to ordinary tribunal
laws one that would afford far better
remedy than could be obtaiBed from action
by the house. If the government leader in
the house wss charged with not taking
primary action on behalf of the house for
q breach of privilege committed against
one of its members. he could retort, where
was the leader of the opposition who ought
to have been expected 10 protect his
friends? Having taken the lead side of
the house in agitation for a repeal of the
union. Cheers
Gladstone-I emphatically repudiate the
assertion
His loriship, Lord Randolph, responded
1t is true. however. He then proceeded
10 argue il would be unwise for the house
to go beyond the action the government
had proposed.
Dillon said he did not consider ordinary
tribunals in England in the present state of
political feeling on the Irish question, fair
ly open to members of the Irish party In
the house of commons He, therefore.
maintained he had a right TO be heard be-
fore the committee.